Mixing device



0. H. LlND MIXING DEVICE Sgpt. 8,1953

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 11, 1950 Fig F /'g 4 I I INVENTOR.Orlando/1C1 in 0 Sept. 8, 1953 o. 7H. LlND 2,651,510 I 7 MIXING DEVICEFiled Aug. 11, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2- INVENTOR. OKLA/v00 L/ND TORNC Y5.

Patented Sept. 8, 1953 UNITED OFFICE newer;

wQelamlf H. Lind, Application Augustfll, 1950, S eiiaf7No.*I7:8,-331

i6 fllalms. (Cl--3259-fi143i) The invention relates to mixing :devicesfor stirring or distributing solid partidles a fliquid "vehicle, such aspigment i-n paint, and also re lates to a new and useful method foreflecting such mixing action.

The present application a continuation-inpart of my co-apendingapplication Serial No. 68315, filed December 29, l1948,'now abandoned.

"Objects and advantages of the invention will "be set forth :in parthereinafterand in part will be obvi'ous hereir-om, or'may belearn'ed bypractice with the invention, the same being realized and attained bymeans 'of'the instrumental-flies and combinations pointed out in theappended claims.

The invention consists in thenovei parts, constructions, arrangements,combinations and :im-

provements herein shown anddescfiibed.

"The accompanying drawings, referred to herein and 'constitutingaparthereof, illustrate one embodiment of the invention, and together with"the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

Anobjectof'theinventionis toprovide asimple I and ieflicient deviceWTlIiGhcan -be introduced and operated within commercial containers ofpaint and similar solid-liquid mixtures so as rapidly and thoroughly tointerm ix the sedimented particles with the liquid vehicle.

In the mixing of paint, liquid fertilizer "and the like, it has beencommon *to -use -a paddle or stick,

"in an endeavor to :scrape from the bottom =0! the can the heaviermaterials and to cause the Jheavier ingredients to become thoroughlymixed with the'lighter liquids. This'is particularlytrue inthe'm'ixingoi paints. With an ordinary woodcn paddle or :stick it is:ailmost impossible to thoroughly lift the heavier particles of lead orother solid pigment ingredients from the bottom and mix them with theoils and, asa result, the top portion of the liquid is always more fluidthan the bottom portion.

The invention provides a .device which may be inserted into a paint can,bucket or other container and, by "vertical oscillation :or up-anddownmovement effect a "rapid and thorough intermixture of the solid andliquid particles. By producing a "unique Tlowand counter-flow ofcurrents within the "lower part of 'a container of paint, the solidparticles are caused to be liited from the bottom of the container andintermix rapidly and veryintimately with "the on or other liquidvehicle. A scouring eflect'zis also created. .so that sedimentation orstickingofsolidparticles tothesur-face-of the'eontainerisroyencome.

2 invention also involves a "novel method of creating*-th'e-=cnrrents-aand fiowa'ge of fluid and solid particles for thepurposes specified.

Uther :cb'j-ects --of the invention are to provide a d'evice "tor -paintor "the like which may be "readily cleaned, may be suspended in thecontainerbetween uses and may be used without danger (ifspotting -orcontaminating the user or the surrounding articles. The device is also.of s'u'ch simple construction :that it is inexpensive to -manuiadture.

'Qf the drawings T'Fig. l 'is aside elevation of a device embodyingtheinvention shown in use in a container of paint or the-like, thecontainer being shown in -section;

:Fig. is 'an enlarged fragmentary vertical sec- *tion of .ithe platesforming the principal opera- =tiverolemeritsrot Lthte inverition; withparts broken away;

Fig. .is an enlarged fragmentary view of a container-with the lowerportion of the agitating devi-ca shown iin osection'therein, on thedownstroke;

Ei'g. =4 a view similarto Fig. 3,"with the device. :on the "up-stroke;

iFig a transverse vertical section ofaplate and .eupxi'forming amodified form of the invenltioni;

-16 .isza topplanview of-thedevice shown in 5 with 5a portion of theupper plate broken awamiand *Iiig. .zis ia viewnimilar :to .Fig. :5 of asecond imoidiflcation.

IEssential-ly "the invention comprises :a cup-like t memberimourrtednt.1IhB'fGI'Id of a handle'adapted itoihemoued up and-down"in a "containerof paint :or the like. The base plate :of said cup memberisiperforated'so tas to permit fluid and small particles of solid matterto pass therethrough. A

second 7.012.138 is-slidably mounted on the handle :to he :arhove andnormally in :contact with the :basemlate 16f the'acup'tmember. The upperplate risialso perforated and preferably-the perforations @thereoi orth-e ma jor portion-of same are outof register with those .in the lowerplate. As the 'two plates are plunged downwardly through the :fluid,:sedimented particles at the bottom of the container are forced injet-like streams through the. mpenings in the iower and upper plates."Upnn. theyup stmke, however, the upper plate moves into contact withthe lower, cutting 101i evenings therein and thereby providing a .nealedraising "the materials which have iflushedzimm :the rhottom bythe-downstroke. Thus, in addition to causing substantial cross-currentsagitating the solid particles, the device provides an effective jet-likeupward propulsion of said particles on the down-stroke, a bodily liftingthereof on the up-stroke and also the up-stroke provides a turbulence inthe wake of the rising plates which effectively scours and furtheragitates the contents of the container.

It will be understood that the foregoing general description and thefollowing detailed description as well are exemplary and explanatory butare not restrictive of the invention.

Referring now in detail to the present preferred embodiment of theinvention, illustrated by way of example in the accompanying. drawings,a cylindrical container 5 of paint or the like is shown with a body ofliquid comprising partially mixed oils and heavier solid pigmentparticles which tend to settle to the bottom in a wellknown manner. Theagitating device of the invention comprises a cup-like member consistingof a preferably flat bottom plate I with an upturned cylindrical rim 8,which is preferably, but not necessarily, imperforate.Centrally'disposed of the plate is an upstanding stem 9 to which ahandle is attached as hereinafter described. While the cup is shown ascylindrical, it is not necessarily circular in cross-section but may beof other shapes.

In accordance with the invention, the bottom plate I is provided with aplurality of openings II which may be distributed in a circle adjacentthe rim 8 as shown, but which are preferably distributed over thesurface of the bottom plate more uniformly, as in concentric circles asshown in Fig. 6, for example. While a circular arrangement of theopenings I I is a convenient one, said ter with the openings II so thatwhen the two plates are together, as shown in Figs. 4, the two platespresent a surface substantially closed to the passage of fluid.Conveniently the openings in the upper plate may be arranged inconcentric circles staggered or out of register with respect to theopenings II in the lower plate, and such arrangements are shown in Figs.3-7. However, any other distribution of the openings may be made so thatthey do not normally register with the openings II in the lower plate.The diameter of upper plate I3 is such that it fits loosely within therim 8 of the lower cup so as to have completely free up-and-down motionwith respect thereto. While the plate I3, shown in Figs. 1 to 4, isslightly less in diameter than the interior of the cup, it may besubstantially less as shown openings may be arranged in any suitablemanner so as to cooperate with the openings in the upper platehereinafter described. The openings themselves, while shown as circular,may be of any desired cross-section. They should be sufficiently largeto permit free passage of paint fluid and solid particles therethroughand in practice, with one size of the device, an opening of about 1%" isprovided in a cup having the diameter of about 5 /4". It will beunderstood that these dimensions are by no means critical and may bevaried considerably as desired. In practice, several sizes are providedto accommodate containers of various ranges of sizes. Fur thermore,there is no critical relationship between the diameter of the device andthe diameter of the paint container, as the device may be used in paintcans barely large enough to receive it, or alternatively in very muchlarger containers.

In accordance with the invention a second plate I3 is provided to lieabove and parallel to plate I. The upper plate I3 is adapted to slidefreely axially with respect to plate I and for that purpose is looselycollared about the central stem 9. As shown, an upstanding collar I2 isprovided to guide the plate It on its vertical movements with respect tothe stem, but in practice such a sleeve or collar is not essential asthe plate I3 may be simply provided with a suitably large loose fittingcentral opening or hub around the stem 9. When held vertically and atrest, the upper plate I3 lies on plate I.

A plurality of openings I4 are provided in F plate I3 for the flow offluid and particles. Said openings may be of the same size as theopenings I I in the lower plate (Figs. 3 and 4) or they may be ofdifferent sizes (Figs.'5-7). However, the

openings I4 are preferably arranged out of regis-- in the modificationsof Figs. 5-7.

The relation between the stem 9 and the plate I is essentially that of avertical rigid handle which extends upwardly to any desired extent sothat the handle may be grasped outside the paint container and for suchpurpose the stem 9 may itself be extended as far as desired. Forconvenience in cleaning and other purposes, however, I have shown adetachable handle I8 comprising a tube in Which a plug I1 i set at thelower end. The plug I I and the upper end of the stem 9 are preferablystepped and the assembly joined by a transverse cotter pin I9 or thelike. Thus the handle may be removed for cleaning, storing, etc. Forconvenience in use, a hook 2i may be formed on the handle I8 so thatsame may be hung over the edge of the container as shown in Fig. 1.

Referring now to the modification shown in Figs. 5 and 6, I have foundthat it is desirable to prevent the upper plate from lying in fiatcontact with the lower plate because of their tendency to adhere throughsuction or surface tension. To prevent this undesirable adherence, theupper plate I30 may be formed with a plurality of corrugations,preferably circular, so that it will come in contact with the uppersurface of plate I only on a plurality of spaced rings I3I. As shown,the openings I32 and I33 in said upper plate are cut through theelevated portion of the corrugated plate and disposed, as shown, so asto be out of register with the openings II in the lower plate.

In the modification shown in Fig. 7, the same effect of spacing the twoplates from overall surface contact is effected by forming elevated lipsI49 around the openings II in said lower plate. In this case the upperplate I3 may be flat and the openings I4 and I4! therein staggered orout of register with the openings I I in the lower plate, as shown.

In the operation of the device embodying my invention, a novel method ofmixing is involved. When the mixing device is forced downwardly, asshown in Fig. 3, the inertia of the opposing fluid and the upper plateI3 keeps plate I3 spaced above the lower plate I. This spacing frees theopenings I I and It so that jets offiuid and pigment are forced upwardlythrough said openings. This imposes an upward and transverse movementupon the fluid as it rises through the openings II and crosses over toescape upwardly through the openings I3. Thus a forceful series ofmovements and cross-currents are imposed upon the settled pigment and itis elevated and forced into the lighter oils above by the downwardmovement of the device. It will also be clear that when the edges of thedevice are near the innerwallsofa container (Fig. 3), a similar upwardflow of materials is imposed between the rim 8 of the cup and the wallsof the container. Fluid also travels upwardly between the inner surfaceof the cuprim 8 and the inner edge of the plate [3.

When the motion of the device is reversed, as on the up-stroke (Fig. 4)plate i3 is forced downwardly and into contact with plate F, thusblinding the openings 1 ll4. The raising of the cup imparts a positivelifting to the solid materials which have previously been forced abovethe bottom of the cup by the down-stroke action described. The liftingaction, therefore carries substantial quantities of the solid materialsupwardly into the upper levels of the fluid. At the same time the risingmovement of the cup which now has an effectively closed bottom, alsoexerts a suction action below it, drawing fluid and solid particles intoits wake where a substantial and effective turbulence is created. Thuson both the up-stroke and on the down-stroke, a very positive andeffective mixing action is imparted to the materials in the container.

The invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specificmechanisms shown and described but departures may be made therefromwithin the scope of the accompanying claims without departing from theprinciples of the invention and without sacrificing its chiefadvantages.

What I claim is:

1. A mixing device including in combination a plunger having a stemmovable up and down in a fluid container, a cup with a perforate bottomfixed to the lower end of the stem, a detachable perforate plate lyingon the bottom of the cup and slidable on the stem toward and away fromsaid bottom, means on said plate and said stem for lhniting the movementof said plate away from said cup bottom, the perforations in the cupbottom and in the plate being out of register so that the openings inthe bottom of the cup are substantially closed when the plate is incontact with said bottom, and the plate being moved away above the cupbottom when the plunger is forced down in the fluid and being held incontact with the bottom when the plunger is lifted through the fluid.

2. A mixing device including in combination a plunger having a stemmovable up and down in a fluid container, a cup with a perforate bottomand a solid upstanding rim fixed to the lower end of the stem, adetachable perforate plate lying on the bottom of the cup and slidableon the stem toward and away from said bottom, means on said plate andsaid stem for limiting the movement of said plate away from said cupbottom, the perforations in the cup bottom and in the plate being out ofregister so that the openings in the bottom of the cup are substantiallyclosed when the plate is in contact with said bottom, and the platebeing moved away above the cup bottom when the plunger is forced down inthe fluid and being held in contact with the bottom when the plunger islifted through the fluid.

3. A mixing device including in combination a plunger having a stemmovable up and down in a fluid container, a cup with a perforate bottomfixed to the lower end of the stem, 2. detachable perforate plate lyingon the bottom of the cup and having a centrally disposed tubular guidemember projecting upwardly so that the plate member is slidable on thestem, toward and away from said bottom, means on said stem for engagingsaid guide member for limiting the movement of said plate away from saidcup bottom, the perforations in the cup bottom and in the plate beingout of register so that the openings in the bottom of the cup aresubstantially closed when the plate is in contact with said bottom, andthe plate being moved away above the cup bottom when the plunger isforced down in the fluid and being held in contact with the bottom whenthe plunger is lifted through the fluid.

4. A device as defined in claim 3 in which there is a detachable handlehaving a tubular end detachably fitted on the upper end of the stemwhereby the movement of the plate away from the cup bottom is limited bythe engagement of the tubular guide member with the base surface of thehandle.

5. A mixing device including in combination a cup with a perforatebottom, a perforate plate lying on the bottom of the cup and movableupwardly away from said bottom, the perforations in the cup bottom andin the plate being out of register so that the openings in the bottom ofthe cup are substantially closed when the plate is in contact with saidbottom and open when the plate is above said bottom, and means formoving the cup and the plate up and down in a container of a fluidmixture and spacing means for preventing continuous coplanar contact ofthe cup bottom and plate.

6. A mixing device including in combination a plunger having a stemmovable up and down in a fluid container, a cup with a perforate bottomfixed to the lower end of the stem, a detachable perforate plate lyingon the bottom of the cup and having a centrall disposed tubular guidemember projecting upwardly so that the plate member is slidable on thestem, toward and away from said bottom, means on said stem for engagingsaid guide member for limiting the movement of said plate away from saidcup bottom, the perforations in the cup bottom and in the plate beingout of register so that the openings in the bottom of the cup aresubstantially closed when the plate is in contact with said bottom, andthe plate being moved away above the cup bottom when the plunger isforced down in the fluid and being held in contact with the bottom whenthe plunger is lifted through the fluid and spacing means for preventingcontinuous coplanar contact of the cup bottom and the plate.

QRLANDO H. LIND.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 1,603,395 Biggs Sept. 12, 1911 1,500,877 King July 8, 1924:1,730,219 Killman Oct. 1, 1929 2,1 3,600 Galante July 12, 1938

